Public fax services and system

ABSTRACT

A public facsimile machine is arranged so that it will only receive an incoming facsimile if the facsimile is preceded by a predetermined security code. In addition, the public facsimile machine is associated with an enhanced facsimile service so that the capabilities provided by such a service, for example, broadcasting a facsimile to a plurality of destinations, may be offered to a user of the public facsimile machine.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/260164,filed on Jun. 15, 1994 now abandoned, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/871155, filed on Apr. 20, 1992, now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the transmission and receipt of facsimiledocuments and particularly relates to a facsimile system that may beaccessed by the public.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Facsimile systems are now being located in various public places, forexample, airports and hotels, for use by the general public.Accordingly, a person who happens to be in an airport or hotel and whoneeds to send or receive a facsimile of a document (hereinafter referredto as sending a "facsimile") may now do so. A public facsimile systemtypically employs a broadcast mode which allows a person (user) to senda facsimile of a document to a number of different destinationsidentified by the user. In doing so, the public facsimile system placesa telephone call to each such destination and transmits a facsimile ofthe user's document thereto. It can be appreciated that if the number ofsuch destinations is appreciable, then it will take an appreciableamount of time for the public facsimile system to complete its task. Itcan also be appreciated that if a number of other users are waiting touse the public facsimile system, then the delay that arises as a resultof the aforementioned broadcast may cause one or more of such otherusers to forgo using the public facsimile system. As such, the publicfacsimile system would lose revenue as a result of such nonuse.

As mentioned above, a public facsimile system may also be used toreceive a facsimile of a document. Typically, a user who desires toreceive a copy of a document via a public facsimile system first placesa call to another person who has access to the document and then passesto the latter the telephone number of the public facsimile system. (Inmost instances, the telephone call may be placed via the publicfacsimile system.) Upon completing the call, the user then places thepublic facsimile system in a receive ready mode to await receipt of theintended transmission. The other person, in a conventional manner, maythen transmit, via his/her facsimile machine, a copy of the desireddocument to the identified public facsimile system. The public facsimilesystem then prints and outputs a printed version of the receivedfacsimile. It can be appreciated that, for whatever reason, thetransmission of the facsimile could be delayed. If the delay is anappreciable amount of time, then the public user might be prompted toproceed to a public telephone in order to place a telephone call to thesender to ascertain the reason for the delay. It can also be appreciatedthat in such a situation the public facsimile system could receive thefacsimile and output a copy thereof during the time that the user isplacing the telephone call to the sender. As such, the copy could beintercepted by another person.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An advance in the art is achieved by arranging a public facsimile systemso that, in accord with an aspect of the invention, it accepts receiptof a facsimile via a transmission path only if it receives apredetermined security code prior to the transmission of the facsimile.Specifically, the public facsimile system controls the transmission of afacsimile by supplying a unique security code to a user desiring toreceive a facsimile via the public facsimile system. The user thensupplies the security code to the sender of the facsimile. The sender ofthe facsimile then places a telephone call to the public facsimilesystem and enters the security code when requested to do so. If thepublic facsimile system finds that the security code that it receivesfrom the sender compares with the security code that it supplied to theuser, then the public facsimile system signals the sender to begin thetransmission of the facsimile. Otherwise, the public facsimile systemterminates the telephone call.

In accord with another aspect of the invention, the public facsimilesystem is associated with an enhanced facsimile service of the typecapable of broadcasting a facsimile to a plurality of destinations. Inthis way, the public facsimile system may quickly process a facsimilethat is to be sent to a plurality of destinations by sending thefacsimile, as well as the telephone numbers of the intendeddestinations, to the enhanced facsimile system. The enhanced facsimilesystem then sends the facsimile to each of the destinations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a broad block diagram of a public facsimile system arranged inaccordance with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 2 through 7 illustrate in flow chart form the program whichimplements the invention in the public facsimile system of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8 through 11 are illustrative examples of the screens that theprogram of FIGS. 2 through 7 display on the display of the publicfacsimile system; and

FIG. 12 is a more detailed block diagram of the public facsimile systemof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Public Facsimile System (PFS) 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes cardreader 120 and document scanner 115 with cover 116. It also includes aprinter (not shown in FIG. 1) which is disposed within housing 135 andwhich provides via chute 140 a printed version of a facsimile that auser may receive via PFS 100. The overall operation of PFS 100 is underthe control of a computer 130 (shown in FIG. 12), which is also disposedwithin housing 135. Computer 130, which may be, for example, the ModelPFI386SX16 computer available from Diamond Flower, Inc., of Korea,operates under a predetermined operating system--illustratively thewell-known MS-DOS operating system. Computer 130 includes display (ormonitor) 110 and touch screen 105 which overlays the face of display110. The display and touch screen, more particularly, provide amechanism for a user to input information in response to instructionsthat computer 130 displays on display 110, in which the information andinstructions relate to either the transmission or receipt of afacsimile.

Associated with PFS 100 is a telephone 125. Telephone connectors (notshown) disposed within housing 135 provides a means for connectingtelephone 125 with telephone line 150 extending to public switchedtelephone network 200. Thus, PFS 100, under the direction of a user, mayestablish via network 200 a telephone connection to other facsimileequipment, e.g., facsimile machine 350 associated with station S1, forthe purpose of sending or receiving a facsimile. PFS 100 may alsoestablish via network 200 a telephone connection to a conventionalEnhanced Facsimile (EFAX) system 300, which may be, for example, thewell-known enhanced FAX service provided by AT&T. Among the features ofthe AT&T Enhanced FAX service is the providing to a user the ability tobroadcast a facsimile to a number of intended recipients. That is, asubscriber sends a facsimile to system 300 as well as the telephonenumbers of the intended recipients. Thereafter, system 300 establishes atelephone connection to each such recipient and transmits thesubscriber's facsimile thereto. Accordingly, the subscriber needs onlyto transmit the facsimile once to system 300, rather than to each suchrecipient. PFS 100 takes advantage of the system 300 broadcastcapability, and other capabilities, by subscribing to that service andoffering such capabilities to a PFS 100 user who is not a system 300subscriber. Thus, in accord with an aspect of the invention, PFS 100does not broadcast a FAX to a number of destinations, but merelysupplies the FAX and destination telephone numbers to system 300, aswill be explained below.

As another system 300 feature, a subscriber thereof may receive afacsimile that had been stored in a so-called system 300 "mailbox"associated with the subscriber. That is, the subscriber may place atelephone call to system 300 via PFS 100 to determine if one or morefacsimiles are stored in the subscriber's mailbox. If that is the case,then the subscriber may direct system 300 to transmit them to PFS 100,as will be explained below.

More specifically, when PFS 100 is turned on and after computer 130 hascompleted some initial tasks, including the "booting up" of theoperating system from an associated hard disk unit (not shown in theFIG.), the operating system invokes the program which implements theinvention in computer 130. An illustrative embodiment of such a programis shown in flow chart form in FIGS. 2 through 7. In particular andbeginning with FIG. 2, when the program is entered at block 200 itproceeds to block 201 where it displays on display 110 a service logoand a "Start" button. The program then proceeds to block 202 where itwaits for receipt of a signal indicating that a user has touched touchscreen 105 at a point which overlays the displayed Start button. Thatis, a user desiring to send or receive a facsimile (hereinafter alsoreferred to as a "FAX") via PFS 100 may do so by touching touch screen105 at the aforementioned point. Touch screen 105, in response thereto,supplies a signal to processor 130. Processor 130, in turn and in aconventional manner, correlates receipt of the signal with the displayof the Start button on display 110. As a result thereof, the programproceeds to block 203 where it displays a menu of services provided byPFS 100 (an illustrative example of such a menu is shown in FIG. 8). Thedisplayed menu includes such service items as "Send a FAX", "Receive aFAX", and "Copy". It also includes a menu item which allows a user to"Broadcast" a FAX to a number of destinations or access an enhanced FAXservice, such as Enhance Fax (EFAX) system 300 shown in FIG. 1.

Following the display of the aforementioned menu items the program thenenters a loop comprising blocks 204 and 205, during which the programwaits a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 10 second s) for the user toselect one of the displayed menu items. If the user does not do sowithin the allotted time, then the program returns to block 201.

The user may invoke one of the displayed services by merely touching, orpointing to, touch screen 105 at a point which overlays the desiredservice item. (The term "points to" and variants of that term as usedherein is meant to include other terms that are understood by the artand which define similar functions. For example, it includes suchnotions as moving a screen cursor to the location of displayed text orto an entry in a menu of displayed entries and operating, for example,an enter key; as "touching" the screen as one would touch screen 105; oreven as identifying particular displayed text or a menu item usingterminal buttons, for example, a computer keyboard button.) If the userpoints to one of the displayed service items within the allotted time,then the program notes the selected menu item and proceeds to block 206where it displays instructions indicating how the user may enter his/hercredit card (or telephone calling card) number by operating a displayedkeypad or by inserting the credit card (or calling card) in credit cardreader 120 (FIG. 1). Following entry of the user's credit card (orcalling card) number, the program proceeds to block 207 where itdetermines in a conventional manner whether the user's card is valid.

That is, the program establishes via telephone line 150 a telephone callto a conventional credit bureau and sends the user's credit (or calling)card number to the bureau via the established telephone connection. Ifthe card is valid, then the bureau returns a validating signal.Otherwise, the bureau returns an invalidating signal. Receipt of thelatter signal causes the program at block 207 to display a messageindicating that the user's credit card is invalid. The program thenreturns to block 201. Receipt of the former signal, on the other hand,causes the program to proceed to one of the blocks 208 through 211 basedon which of the displayed service items the user selected.

Assuming that the user selected "Send a FAX" then the program proceedsto block 208. An expanded version of block 208 is shown in FIGS. 3 and4. In particular, at block 301 the program displays a keypad andinstructions for entering the telephone number of the destination thatis to receive the user's FAX. The user enters the destination telephonenumber by pointing to respective digits of the displayed keypad. Uponentry of the last such digit, the program then proceeds to block 302where it displays (a) two buttons respectively designated "Legal" and"Letter", and (b) instructions for entering the size, legal or letter,of the FAX that is to be sent to the identified destination. The programthen proceeds to block 304 upon the user pointing to a desired one ofthe displayed buttons.

At block 304, the program displays two buttons respectively designated"Standard" and "Fine" so that the user may specify the resolution of theFAX that is to be sent. When the user selects one of the displayedbuttons (i.e., by pointing to it) then the program proceeds to block 305where it prints and outputs via chute 140 (FIG. 1 ) a FAX cover pagebased on whether or not the user points to an appropriate displayedoption. If the user declines the option, then the program proceeds toblock 306. If the user selects the option, then, as mentioned, theprogram outputs a cover sheet to chute 140. The program then proceeds toblock 306.

At block 306, the program displays instructions for causing PFS 100 toscan the page(s) of the document that the user desires to send. That is,the displayed instructions instruct the user to (a) lift scanner cover116, (b) place the first page of the document to be sent (which might bethe aforementioned cover page) face down on a conventional glass platenof scanner 115, (d) then lower scanner cover 116 to its originalposition, and (e) touch a displayed "Enter" button. The program,responsive to the user pointing to the displayed Enter button, proceedsto block 307 where it scans, in a conventional manner, the documentpositioned on the scanner glass platen. In doing so, the program notesthe progress of such scanning on display 110. When the scanner hascompleted scanning the document, it then proceeds to block 308 where itinstructs the user via display 110 to replace the scanned document withthe next page, if any, and then touch the aforementioned Enter button.The program at block 309 and in response to the user pointing to theenter key, returns to block 307 for the scanning of the next page of theFAX that the user desires to send. The program continues to loop throughblocks 307, 308 and 309 until it has scanned the last page of thedocument (FAX) that the user desires to send. That is, the program atblock 309 proceeds to block 310 upon determining that the user haspointed to a displayed "End" button.

At block 310, the program notifies the user via display 110 that atelephone call is being established to the identified destination andthen proceeds to block 311. At block 311, the program in a conventionalmanner places telephone line 150 in a so-called off-hook state and thendials the destination number. The program then waits at block 312 andproceeds to block 313 upon PFS 100 detecting that a carrier signal isbeing received via the established telephone connection. The program, onthe other hand, proceeds to block 3 18 if the received signal is aso-called busy signal.

At block 313, the program waits for PFS 100 and the called destinationto exchange various codes as well as phasing and training signals toestablish a mutually acceptable operating mode including thetransmission rate that will be used for the sending of the FAX. When theoperating mode is established, then the program causes the first page ofthe scanned document to be transmitted to telephone line 150 via a PFS100 modem circuit. The program then proceeds to block 314 to determineif it is done. That is, if it has transmitted the last page of thedocument scanned at block 307. If that is the case, then the programproceeds to block 315. Otherwise, the program returns to block 313 totransmit the next page of the user's document.

At block 315, the program displays two buttons respectively designated"More Services" and "Quit". The program then proceeds to block 316 towait for the user to select one of the displayed buttons. If the userpoints to the "Quit" button, then the program proceeds to block 317. If,on the other hand, the user points to the "More Services" button, thenthe program proceeds to block 203 (FIG. 2).

At block 317, the program causes PFS 100 to print and output to chute140 a statement of the user's transaction as well as the cost associatedtherewith. The program then proceeds to block 201.

At block 318, the program checks to see if a so-called redial flag hadbeen set as a result of trying to redial the current destination. If theflag is not set, then the program proceeds to block 323 where it setsthe redial flag and then returns to block 311 to redial the currentdestination number. Otherwise, the program proceeds to block 319, whereit displays on display 110 a menu of options including an option to sendthe FAX to an alternate destination or to automatically send (autosend)the FAX via an enhanced fax service, such as EFAX system 300. Thedisplayed menu also includes an option to "Quit". The program then waitsfor the user to select one of the displayed options. When the userselects an option, the program determines which option the user selectedby way of blocks 320 and 321. That is, at block 320, the programproceeds to block 324 if the user selects the autosend option. If theuser does not select the latter option, then the program leaves block320 and proceeds to block 321. At block 321, the program proceeds toblock 322 if it finds that the user selected the alternate destinationoption. Otherwise, the program proceeds to block 317 as a result ofconcluding that the user selected the Quit option.

At block 322, the program redisplays the aforementioned telephone keypadas well as instructions for entering the alternate destination number.The program then resets (clears) the redial flag and returns to block311 to place a telephone call to the alternate destination. The programthen proceeds in the manner described above. At block 324, the programplaces a telephone call to system 300 via telephone line 150 and network200. When the connection is established, the program then waits apredetermined period of time--illustratively 5 seconds--for system 300to transmit an announcement requesting entry of a subscriber passwordand identification number (ID). At the end of that period of time, theprogram causes PFS 100 to transmit over line 150 the system 300subscriber password and ID assigned to PFS 100. The program also causesPFS 100 to transmit the destination telephone number entered by theuser. The password, ID and destination number are delimited from oneanother by transmitting a pound (#) sign and by transmitting a star (*)sign and then the pound sign at the end of the destination number. Atthat point, PFS 100 and system 300 negotiate, in the manner discussedabove, an operating mode. Once an operating mode is established, PFS 100transmits the user's facsimile to system 300.

During the transmission, the program displays on display 110 the factthat it is transmitting the user's FAX. The program also displays (a)the telephone number of EFAX system 300, and (b) a message indicatingthat 6) the user may call EFAX system 300 to verify delivery of theuser's FAX, and (ii) a unique reference number will be printed on thetransaction summary that is outputted at block 317. Following theforegoing, the program proceeds to block 315.

Returning to FIG. 2, if the user, on the other hand, elects to receive aFAX via PFS 100, then the program proceeds from block 207 to block 209.An expanded version of block 209 is shown in FIG. 5.

In particular, the program at block 401 generates, in accord with anaspect of the invention, a security code and displays the code ondisplay 110. The program also displays instructions for entering auser-generated security code. If the user elects to enter his/her ownsecurity code then the program proceeds to block 403 where it displaysthe aforementioned keypad and instructions for entering a security code.The program then waits for the user to enter the code. When the userdoes so, the program collects the digits forming the code and storesthem in an associated memory register. The program then proceeds toblock 404 where it redisplays the keypad and displays instructions forentering the telephone number of the destination that will transmit theFAX. Similarly, the program then waits for the user to enter the digitsforming the requested telephone number and collects them as they areentered. The program then proceeds to block 405 upon collecting the lastone of such digits.

At blocks 405, the program displays instructions for placing a call tothe party that will send the FAX to PFS 100 so that the user may passthe security code and PFS 100 FAX telephone number to that party. Inparticular, the program displays the aforementioned keypad for enteringthe called number and a number of buttons respectively designated"Enter", "Clear Number" and "Quit". (An illustrative example of thedisplay is shown in FIG. 9) To place the call, the user removes handset125 (FIG. 1) from its cradle and then enters the telephone number viathe displayed keypad. The program collects the digits as they areentered. If the user desires to change the phone number, then all thatuser needs to do is to point to the displayed button labeled "ClearNumber" and enter the new telephone number via the displayed keypad.When the user enters the last digit of the telephone number, he/she thenpoints to the "Enter" button. In response thereto, the program at block405 brings up on the display a button labeled "Ready to Receive ". Inaddition, the program places telephone line 150 in an off-hook state anddials the telephone number that the user entered. When the calling partyanswers and the user passes thereto the aforementioned security code andPFS 100 FAX telephone number, then the user returns handset 125 to itscradle and points to the displayed "Ready to Receive" button, therebyprompting the program to enter a facsimile receive mode.

In accord with an aspect of the invention, the program is arranged towait a predetermined period of time--illustratively five minutes--forreceipt of the FAX from the called party as represented by the dashedline 406. During the wait period, the program displays on display 110the fact that it is waiting for receipt of the FAX and displays theamount of time that has elapsed since the user touched the displayed"Receive Ready" button.

If PFS 100 receives a telephone call within the aforementionedpredetermined period of time, then the program proceeds to block 407.Otherwise, the program terminates its receive mode and proceeds to block315 (FIG. 4). At block 407, the program waits for a predetermined periodof time--illustratively 60 seconds--for receipt of the digits formingthe aforementioned security code. If the digits are received within thatperiod of time then the program proceeds to block 408. Otherwise, inaccord with an aspect of the invention, the program terminates itsreceive mode and proceeds to block 315.

At block 408, the program proceeds to block 409 if the series of digitsthat it receives via the telephone connection compares with the securitycode that it had stored in its associated memory register. If thecomparison turns out to be false, then the program proceeds to block317. At block 409, the program places PFS 100 in a mode for receiving afacsimile via line 150 (FIG. 1). In that mode, PFS 100 modem circuitrytransmits a carrier tone over line 150 for transmission to the sender'sfacsimile machine. The PFS 100 modem circuitry and the sender'sfacsimile machine then exchange signals for the purpose of establishingan operating mode, as mentioned above. Once the operating mode isestablished, then the sender's facsimile machine may begin transmittingthe facsimile. During receipt of the facsimile, the program displays amessage on display 110 indicating that the facsimile is being receivedand that PFS 100 receives all pages of the facsimile before printingthem on plain paper. The program then proceeds to block 315 (FIG. 4)following the printing and outputting the FAX to chute 140.

Assume at this point that the user, in response to the menu of serviceitems displayed at block 203, selects the menu item "Make a Copy". Inthat event then, the program proceeds to block 211. At block 211, theprogram in the manner discussed above in connection with block 302,requests that the user enter via touch screen 105 the size of thedocument to be copied, i.e., letter or legal size. The program thendisplays on display 110 instructions for entering the number of copiesthat the user desires. When the user enters that information, theprogram then displays instructions for scanning the document to becopied, as was similarly done at blocks 306 through 309. When thescanning of the page(s) of the document is completed, and the user hasnotified the program of that fact by pointing to an appropriatedisplayed button, then the program in response thereto prints andoutputs to chute 140 the desired number of copies of the scanneddocument. The program then proceeds to block 315 (FIG. 4).

Assume at this point that the user, in response to the menu of serviceitems displayed at block 203, selects the menu item "Broadcast aFAX"/Enhanced FAX. In that event then, the program proceeds to block210. At block 210, the program displays on display 110 two buttonsrespectively designated "FAX Broadcast" and "Enhanced FAX Subscriber".If the user desires to broadcast a FAX, then the user may access thatservice by pointing to the former button. Assuming that the user doesso, then the program in response to that selection proceeds to block 501of FIG. 6 via blocks 302 through 309 (FIG. 3).

At block 501, the program displays on display 110 instructions forentering the telephone numbers of the recipients (destinations) of theFAX. The program also displays a number of blank widows and a number ofbuttons respectively designated "Add Number" and "Numbers Entered". (Anillustrative example of the display is shown in FIG. 10.) The programthen proceeds to block 502 where waits for the user to point to one ofthe two displayed buttons.

In particular, the user enters a destination telephone number by firstpointing to the displayed "Add Number" button. The program in responsethereto leaves block 502 and proceeds to block 503. At block 503, theprogram displays the aforementioned keypad and instructions for enteringa telephone number. The program then collects the digits as they areentered and returns to block 501 where it redisplays the above-mentioneddisplay. However, in doing so the program displays the telephone numberthat the user entered in a first one of the displayed windows. The usermay then enter the telephone number of the next destination by onceagain pointing to the displayed "Add a Number" button. Similarly, theprogram proceeds to block 503 where it redisplays the keypad andcollects the digits as they are entered the user. The program thenreturns to block 501 where it displays the telephone number that theuser just entered in a next one of the displayed windows. (It is notedthat the user may delete a displayed telephone number by pointing to thenumber. The program in response thereto erases the telephone number fromdisplay 110.) The user and the program interact with one another in theforegoing manner until the user enters the last of the destinationtelephone numbers and then points to the displayed "Numbers Entered"button, which causes the program to leave block 502 and proceed to block504 via blocks 302 through 309 (FIG. 3) as represented in the FIG. bythe dashes.

At block 504, the program causes PFS 100 to place a telephone call viatelephone line 150 and network 200 to EFAX system 300 (FIG. 1). When thetelephone connection is established and EFAX system 300 has transmittedthe aforementioned announcement, then the program at block 505 transmitsits EFAX system subscriber password, personal identification (ID) andthe broadcast destination telephone numbers and delimiting signals, asdiscussed above. PFS 100 then transmits the user's scanned FAX to EFAXsystem 300 in accord with a negotiated operating mode. As mentionedabove, during the transmission, the program (at block 506) displays ondisplay 110 the fact that it is transmitting the user's FAX. It alsodisplays (a) the telephone number of EFAX system 300, and (b) a messageindicating that (i) the user may call a PFS 100 control agent to verifydelivery of the user's FAX, and (ii) a unique reference number will beprinted on the transaction summary that is outputted at block 317. Theprogram then proceeds to block 315 following the transmission of theuser's FAX.

(It is noted that EFAX system 300 stores in associated memory theinformation that it receives from PFS 100. Thereafter, EFAX system 300places a telephone call to each destination telephone number that itreceived from PFS 100 and transmits the user's FAX to the calledstation, thereby completing the broadcast of the user's FAX in themanner described above.)

If the user subscribes to an enhanced FAX service, such as EFAX system300, then the user may access the service via PFS 100 by merely pointingto the "EFAX Subscriber" button that the program displays at block 210.Assuming that the user does so, then the program leaves block 210 andproceeds to block 601 of FIG. 7. At block 601 the program displays ondisplay 110 buttons representing respective services that EFAX system300 provides to its subscribers. Such services include sending a FAX andaccessing a so-called subscriber mailbox that is contained (stored) inEFAX system 300. Specifically, the program displays two buttonsrespectively designated "Send" and "Mailbox", and then waits for theuser select one of those buttons. If the user points to the "Send"button, then the program leaves block 602 and proceeds to block 603 viablocks 302 through 309 (FIG. 3) as represented by the dashed line inFIG. 7. If, on the other hand, the user points to the "Mailbox" button,then the program proceeds to block 605.

At block 603, the program displays on display 110 instructions foraccessing EFAX system 300, the aforementioned keypad and two buttonsrespectively designated "EFAX" and "Begin". (An illustrative example ofsuch a display is shown in FIG. 11.) In particular, to access EFAXsystem 300, the user removes handset 125 from its cradle, therebycausing PFS 100 to place telephone line 150 (FIG. 1) in an off-hookstate. The user then points to the EFAX button as instructed. Inresponse thereto, the program dials the telephone number of EFAX system300. When the desired telephone connection is established via network200 (FIG. 1), then EFAX system 300 in response thereto transmits promptsrequesting that the subscriber enter his/her subscriber identificationnumber (ID) and password. The user/subscriber enters such information bypointing to the appropriate buttons forming the displayed keypad. Theprogram in response to the user pointing to a particular keypad digitcauses PFS 100 circuitry to output signals representing the selecteddigit to telephone line 150. When the user/subscriber enters his/herpassword the user may then interact, in a conventional manner, with EFAXsystem 300 to access the desired "send" service. Upon accessing thatservice, the user enters via the displayed keypad the telephone numberof each destination that is to receive the FAX that PFS 100 has justscanned.

At the completion of such interaction, the user/subscriber then pointsto the displayed "Begin" button. The program in response theretoproceeds to block 604 where it causes PFS 100 to negotiate atransmission operating mode with EFAX system 300, in the mannerdiscussed above. When the operating mode is established, then PFS 100transmits the facsimile that it has scanned during the aforementionedintermediate steps between blocks 602 and 603. The program then proceedsto block 315 (FIG. 4) following the transmission of the user'sfacsimile.

The program at block 605 similarly displays instructions for accessingEFAX system 300. As such, the above discussion relating to block 603equally pertains to block 605 with the exception that the user interactswith EFAX system 300 to determine if one or more facsimile messages arestored in the user's assigned EFAX system 300 mailbox. If, as a resultof such interaction, the user determines that a facsimile is not storedin his/her mailbox, then the user points to a displayed "Quit" button(not shown). In that event, then, the program leaves block 606 andproceeds to block 315 (FIG. 4). If a facsimile is stored in the user'smailbox, then the user may obtain a copy of each such facsimile bypointing to the displayed "Begin" button. Alternatively, the user mayexit the service by pointing to the aforementioned displayed "Quit"button. If the user points to the displayed "Begin" button, then theprogram leaves block 606 and proceeds to block 607 where it enters areceive mode and waits for receipt of a carrier tone from EFAX system300 and entry of the ensuing negotiations to establish a transmissionoperating mode.

When PFS 100 begins to receive the EFAX system 300 transmission, theprogram then displays on display 110 a message that the facsimile isbeing received and that the facsimile message will be printed andoutputted when it is fully received. Thereafter, the program proceeds toblock 315 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 12 is a simplified block diagram of PFS 100. As mentioned above,the overall operation of PFS 100 is under the control of computer 130.At the heart of computer 130 is a microprocessor 5 which communicateswith its various peripherals via bus 70. These peripherals include ROM10, RAM 15, hard disc unit 20 and various other peripherals denotedcollectively at 25. The computer also includes a number of controllersfor interfacing computer 130 with the functionalities discussed above.Specifically, graphics controller 40 operates at the direction ofprocessor 5 to display the various screens discussed above on display110. Touch-screen controller 45 determines if a user has touched touchscreen 105 based on signals that controller 45 receives from touchscreen 105. If that turns out to be the case, then controller 45operating in conjunction with processor 5 and controller 40 determinesthe location of the touch point and correlates that location withgraphics displayed on display 110. Computer 130 further includescontrollers 50 and 55, which direct the operation of printer 145 andscanner 115, respectively, and controller 60, which interfaces creditcard reader with bus 70. (It is noted that printer 145 is the model4019E printer available from IBM, scanner 115 is the model SB-L301scanner available from Pentex Inc., and credit card reader 120 is themodel 21065075 reader available from Mag-Tek Inc.)

Telephone controller and modem 30, in particular, operate to connecttelephone line 150 between handset 125 and conventional modem circuitry.Controller 30 also operates in conjunction with its modem to transmitand receive a facsimile. Dial network 35 is a circuit which operatesunder the control of controller 30 to dial out over line 150 a telephonenumber using multifrequency tones.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention.Those skilled in the an will be able to devise numerous arrangements,which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, neverthelessembody those principles that are within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A facsimile machine having a plurality of operating modesincluding a receiving mode, said receiving mode comprising:means,responsive to a user entering a request to use said receiving mode toreceive a facsimile, for generating and outputting a unique securitycode to said user, means for communicating said unique security coderequested by said user to a sender of a facsimile at another facsimilemachine, said sender including the unique security code in sending afacsimile to said facsimile machine, and means, thereafter responsive toan incoming call connection from said other facsimile machine by saidsender, for waiting a predetermined period of time for receipt of saidunique security code via said connection, and for receiving a facsimilefrom said other facsimile machine via said connection only if saidunique security code is received from said other facsimile machineduring said predetermined period of time.
 2. The facsimile machine ofclaim 1 wherein said means for receiving includes means for terminatingsaid connection if said unique security code is not received within saidpredetermined period of time.
 3. The facsimile machine of claim 1wherein said means for waiting includes means for transmitting over saidconnection a prompt designed to urge a user of said other facsimilemachine to enter said unique security code.
 4. The facsimile machine ofclaim 1 wherein said facsimile machine includes a facsimile transmissionmode for transmitting a facsimile to said other facsimile machine. 5.The facsimile machine of claim 4 wherein said facsimile machine is apublic facsimile machine associated with an enhanced facsimile service,and wherein said transmission mode includes means, responsive to a userinputting a request to transmit a facsimile to a plurality ofdestinations, for establishing a communications connection to saidenhanced facsimile service and sending said user's facsimile as well assaid destinations to said enhanced facsimile service for delivery toeach of said destinations.
 6. A facsimile machine comprising:means,responsive to a user entering a request to use said facsimile machine toreceive a facsimile from another facsimile machine, for outputting aunique security code to said user, means for communicating said uniquesecurity code requested by said user to a sender of a facsimile at saidother facsimile machine, said sender including the unique security codein sending a facsimile to said facsimile machine, and means forreceiving a call via a communications path and for requesting entry ofsaid unique security code, and for inhibiting the operation of saidreceiving means if said security code is not received via saidcommunications path prior to receipt of said facsimile.
 7. The facsimilemachine of claim 6 wherein said means for inhibiting includes means,operative in the event that said security code is so received, forcontinuing communications with said other facsimile machine in order toreceive said facsimile.
 8. The facsimile machine of claim 6 wherein saidmeans for receiving includes means, operative prior to receipt of saidfacsimile, for transmitting over said communications path a prompturging a user of said other facsimile machine to enter said uniquesecurity code.
 9. The facsimile machine of claim 8 wherein said meansfor transmitting includes means for terminating said communications ifsaid predetermined security code is not received within a predeterminedperiod of time of said prompt.
 10. The facsimile machine of claim 6wherein said facsimile machine is a public facsimile machine and is asubscriber of an enhanced facsimile service and wherein said publicfacsimile machine includes means for transmitting a facsimile and means,responsive to a user requesting transmission of a facsimile to aplurality of destinations, for establishing a communications connectionto said enhanced facsimile service and transmitting said user facsimileto said enhanced facsimile service for delivery to each of saiddestinations.